X-y recorder for aviation training device



United States Patent [72] Inventor RudolfA.Frasca 2,853,800 9/1958 Cutler 35/102 606 S. Neil St., Champaign, Illinois 61820 3,026,038 3/1962 Ederer 35/ 10.2X g 1967 Primary Examiner-Malcolm A. Morrison i e t d i Assistant Examiner-Felix D. Gruber l awn 6 Attorney-Dominik, Knechtel and Godula [54] ORDER FOR AVIATION TRAINING ABSTRACT: An X-Y plotter including, generally, drive 9 i 8D in Fl mechanism for driving a plotting head in the well-known raw g 'manner to plot a continuous line representing, in the illus- [52] U.S. Cl 35/101, trated case, a simulated flight of a stationary aviation trainer. 35/12; 235/61 340/24; 346/33 The drive mechanism can be of generally standard construc- [51] Int. Cl G09b 9/02, tion. A control mechanism is coupled to the drive mechanism GOld 1/04 and includes, generally, a pair of mechanical resolvers for [50] Field of Search l35/l0.2. computing X- and Y-components simulated wind direction 12(D,F,P,W); 346/33; 340/24; 235/6l.l2 and velocity and the simulated heading of the trainer, respec- )tively. The X- and Y-outputs of the respective resolvers are References Cited combined to provide a resultant X- and Y-component, each of UNITED STATES PATENTS which is coupled, as one input, to a pair of ball-disk integra- 2,485,331 10/1949 Stuhrman et a1 /102 tars respectively The Simulated airspeed 0f the trainer is 2,486,784 11/1949 H ld 35/1(),2X coupled, as a second input, to each ofthe ball-disk integrators. 2,553,529 5/1951 D h l, 35/102 The output of each of the ball-disk integrators is coupled 2,569,328 9/1951 Omber 346/33 to the drive mechanism, to cause the same to drive the 2,671,612 3/1954 Coster 235/615 plotting head in an X- and Y-direction to plot the simulated 2,679,033 5/1954 Hartman 340/24 flight ofthe trainer.

HEAD/A16 A 54- W R /5 57 36 l 58 Y r 40 28 ll C PATENTED um I970 sHEET l OF INVENTOR. RUDOLF A. FRASCA $2M;

141 l III A TTO/P/VEYS X-Y RECORDER FOR AVIATION TRAINING DEVICE This invention relates, in general, to X-Y plotters and, in particular, to X-Y plotters which are adapted for use with stationary aviation trainers for plotting the simulated flights of the trainers. More particularly still, the invention relates to improved control mechanism for driving an X-Y recorder of the latter type.

Presently, there are several X-Y plotters available which are being used with stationary aviation trainers, however, they are generally unsatisfactory, for one reason or another. For example, these X-Y plotters are generally electrically operated and, unless constantly calibrated, they fail to accurately plot the simulated flight. Even when properly calibrated, the recorders have limited accuracy. It is also found that the electrically operated plotters are subject to considerable drift so that the plotted flight has to be constantly corrected to accurately portray a true simulated flight. In addition to being subject to drift, these plotters also have one or more null points which further result in inaccuracy in the plotted flight. Still another problem with this type of plotter is the low power output of the control mechanism for driving them. As a result, the plotting mechanism must be virtually friction free, otherwise there is insufficient power to drive it and an erratic plot results.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved X-Y plotters.

Another object is to provide improved X-Y plotters which are particularly adapted for use with stationary aviation trainers, to accurately plot simulated flights.

Still another object is to provide improved X-Y plotters which are far less'subject to drift than those presently available.

Still another object is to provide improved X-Y plotters which are free of null points so that a more accurate plot is provided.

A still further object is to provide improved X-Y plotters which do not require continuous calibration in order to provide an accurate plot.

A still further object is to provide improved X-Y plotters which have control mechanisms having a higher power output for driving the plotting mechanism of the plotters than heretofore generally provided.

Still another object is' to 7 provide improved control mechanism for driving the plotting mechanism of X-Y plotters, whereby a more accurate plot is provided thereon.

A further object is to provide improved control mechanisms for X-Y plotters which are of relatively simple construction and which are comparatively inexpensive and require less maintenance in comparison to those presently available.

The above objectives are accomplished with an X-Y plotter including, generally, drive mechanism for driving a plotting head in the well-known manner to plot a continuous line representing, in the illustrated case, a simulated flight of a stationary aviation trainer. The drive mechanism can be of generally standard construction. A control mechanism is coupled to the drive mechanism and includes, generally, a pair of mechanical resolvers for computing X-Y components of the simulated wind direction and velocity and the simulated heading of the trainer, respectively. The X and Y outputs of the respective resolvers are combined to provide a resultant X and component, each of which is coupled, as one input, to a pair of ball-disk ball-disk respectively. The simulated airspeed of the trainer is coupled, as a second input, to each of the ball-disk ball-disk The output of each of the ball-disk ball-disk is coupled to the drive mechanism, to cause the same to drive the plotting head in an X and Y direction to plot the simulated flight of the trainer.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of an X-Y plotter and a stationary aviation trainer with which it can be used to plot its simulated flight;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the control mechanism for the X-Y plotter;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the control mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the control mechanism;

FIG. 5 is an exploded partial view of the control mechanism, illustrating the operative relationship of its components;

FIG. 6 is a rear plan view of the control mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the wind direction and windspeed resolver, partially sectionalized to illustrate its operation; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view, partially sectionalized, of the windspeed rack, generally illustrating the manner in which it is driven.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is shown an X-Y plotter 10 which is adapted for use with a stationary aviation trainer 12 which can be of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 476,249, filed Aug. 2, 1965, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,378,938 by Rudolf A. Frasca, to plot the simulated flight of the trainer. The plotter 10 has a cabinet 14 in which is retained a plotting table or face 16. The cabinet 14 may be of the free-standing type, with the plotting face 16 vertically disposed therein, as illustrated. Alternatively, the cabinet can be a flat tablelike cabinet, with the plotting face horizontally disposed therein. Other constructions also can be used.

The drive mechanism for the plotter 10 is retained within the cabinet 14 and includes a pair of support bars 18 and 19 which are adapted to be moved horizontally left and right with respect to the plotting face 16. A plotting head 20 is slidably affixed to the support bars 18 and 19 and is adapted to be moved vertically up and down thereon. The movement of the support bars 18 and 19 and the plotting head 20 is in the wellknown manner, by means of, for example, a cable-pulley arrangement or a worm drive arrangement, both of which are generally standard, in response to the control mechanism 22 (FIGS. 2-6), described fully below.

The control mechanism 22 is shown in schematic block diagram in FIG. 2 and can be seen to include a resolver 24 for computing the X- and Y-components of the simulated wind direction and speed. The X- and wind direction and speed is established by the instructor, and the resolver 24 is constructed so that the direction and/or speed can be varied independently of one another or simultaneously. These wind direction and velocity inputs to the resolver 24 are indicated by the inputs 26 and 28, respectively, while the computed X and Y components thereof are represented by the X output 30 and the output 32.

The control mechanism 22 also includes a resolver 34, for computing the X and Y components of the simulated heading of the trainer 12. The simulated heading of the trainer can be derived from the directional gyro (not shown) of the trainer, and is coupled to the heading input 36 of the resolver 34 to drive the latter. The X and Y components of the heading are represented by the X-output output 38 and the Y output output 40.

The X outputs 30 and 38 from the resolvers 24 and 34 are coupled to a mechanical computer 42 and the resultant output 44 thereof is coupled to a ball-disk integrator 46, as described more fully below.

The Y outputs 32 and 40 from the resolvers 24 and 34 are likewise coupled to a mechanical computer 48 and the resultant output 50 thereof is coupled to a ball-disk integrator 52.

The simulated airspeed of the trainer can be derived from the airspeed indicator (not shown) in the trainer and is coupled to an airspeed control device 54. Its outputs 55 and 57 are coupled as inputs to the integrators 46 and 52, respectively, for controlling their operation.

The outputs 56 and 58 of the respective integrators 46 and 52 are coupled to a pair of drive pulleys (not shown) of the drive mechanism of the plotter 10, to rotate them to move the cables driving the support bars 18 and 19 and the plotting head 20. i

More specifically, as can be seen in FIG. 3 the control mechanism 22 includes a pair of rectangular-shaped plates 60 and 62 which are vertically supported and retained in spaced relation by spacers 64, to form a supporting frame.

The resolver 24 is affixed to one end of the plates 60 and 62, and, as can be best seen in FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 8, includes a frame 180 having a housing 181 affixed to it, inwhich three gears 182, 183 and 184 are retained. The gear 182 is affixed to a shaft 185 and the latter also has two other gears 186 and 187 affixed to it. The gear 186 meshes with a worm gear 188 affixed to a shaft 189. The shaft 189 constitutes the input 26 to the resolver 24, and is manually rotated by the instructor to apply a wind direction input to the resolver 24, in a manner described more fully below. I

The gear 183 is an idler gear which couples the gear 182 to the gear 184 to drive the latter. The gear 184 is affixed to a shaft 190 to which there is also affixed a pinion gear 197 of a wind speed differential 194 which is freely and rotatably supported upon the shaft 190. The windspeed differential 194 further includes a housing 212 and a pair of pinion gears 195 and 196 which mesh with the pinion gear 197 and a pinion gear 198. The latter pinion gear is affixed to a shaft 199 (FIG. 8) which is rotatably retained within the frame'180and which has a pinion gear 200 affixed to it. The pinion gear 200 meshes with and drives a wind-speed rack 201, described more fully below.

A gear 191 is affixed to and drives the housing 212 of the windspeed differential 194. The gear 191. in turn, is rotatably driven by means of a worm gear 192 affixed to a wind speed input shaft 193. This latter shaft constitutes the input 28 to the resolver 24, and is also manually operated to apply a windspeed input to the resolver 24, in'a manner described more fully below. 7

The windspeed rack 201 hasa coupling pin 204 affixed to it, andis slidably retained within a groove which extends diametrically across a circular-shaped housing 202 supported by the shaft 199. The housing 202 has a gear 203 integrally formed with it about its periphery which meshes with the gear 187 affixed to the shaft 185.

A pair of guide bars 208 and 210 (FIG. 3) are affixed to the coupling pin 203, and are free to rotate thereon. Cables 66 and 68 are affixed to the guide bars 208 and 210, respectively. The guide bar 208 and the cable 66 constitute the output 30 of the resolver 24, and the guide bari2l0 and the cable 68 constitute the output 32 thereof.

The windspeed component of the wind triangle is varied by altering the distance between the axis of the shaft 199 andthe coupling pin 204 affixed to the windspeed rack 201. The wind direction component of the wind triangle is varied by varying the angular position of the windspeed rack 201, by rotating the housing 202. I

More specifically, a wind of a predetermineddirection is apv plied to the resolver 24 by manually rotating the wind direction input shaft 189. The worm gear 188 affixed thereto rotates the gear 186 and the shaft 185 to which it is affixed. This action, in turn, rotates the gear 187 and hence the housing 202 to which the windspeed rack 201 is affixed, since the gear 187 is drivingly engaged with the gear 203 integrally formed with the housing 202. The angular displacement of the windspeed rack 201 which, as indicated above, represents the wind direction component of the wind triangle, is coupled via the guide bar 208 and the cable 66 to the mechanical computer 42.

The velocity of the wind is applied to the resolver 24 by manually rotating the windspeed input shaft 193. As the latter is rotated, the worm gear 192 affixed to it drives the gear 191 and hence the windspeed differential 194. As the windspeed differential 194 is rotated, the pinion gear 200 is rotated and slidably displaces the windspeed rack 201 so as to vary the distance between the coupling pin 204 and the axis of the shaft 199. The distance between the coupling pin 204 and the axis of the shaft 199, as indicated above, represents the windspeed component of the wind triangle and is coupled via the guide bar 210 and the cable 68 to the mechanical computer 48.

If the drive to the windspeedrack 201 were direct, the setting of the coupling pin 204 would be disturbed whenever the wind direction were altered, causing the housing 202 to be rotated. This would be due to the fact that the pinion gear 200 would remain stationary, and rotating the housing 202 carrying the windspeed rack would cause the pinion gear 200 to drive the windspeed rack. The windspeed differential 194 eliminates this problem, by turning the pinion gear 200 in the same direction as that in which the housing 202 is rotated, so that the wind direction can be altered without unintentionally altering the wind speed setting. I

With the windspeed differential 194 included in the resolver 24, it can be seen that when the wind direction input shaft 189 is rotated to change the wind direction applied to the resolver 24, the worm gear 188 drives the worm gear 186 which causes the housing 202 and hence the windspeed rack 201 to rotate, via the shaft 185, the gear 187 and the gear 203 integrally formed with the housing 202. When the worm gear 186 rotates, its motion is coupled into the primary drive (pinion gear 197) of the windspeed differential 194, via the gears 182, 183 and 184. The output of the windspeeddifferential 194 (pinion gear 198) rotates the pinion gear 200 driving the windspeed rack 201, causing the pinion gear 200 to rotate in the same direction as the housing 202. Thus, a change in the wind direction has no effect on the setting of the coupling pin 204 on the windspeed rack 20], and hence on the windspeed setting.

The cable 66 affixed to the guide bar 208 is extended about a pair of pulleys 70 and 72 rotatably affixed to one end of a pulley support bar 74 affixed transversely across the top of the plates 60 and 62. Its end is affixed to a gear rack 76, preferably at the lower end thereof, as illustrated. The cable 68 likewise is extended about a pair of pulleys 78 and 80 rotatably affixed to the opposite end of the pulley support bar 74, and its end is affixed to a gear rack 82, also at its lower end. The operation of the resolver 24, as described above, is such that the cables 66 and 68 are extended and retracted, in accordance with the computed X and Y components of the wind direction and velocity. The cables 66 and 68, in turn, raise and lower the gear racks 76 and 82, to correspondingly act on the mechani cal computers 42 and 48, as explained more fully below.

The gear rack 82, as can be best seen in FIG. 5, is slidably affixed to a rod support block 104 in a vertically disposed position along one side of the plates 60 and 62. The gear rack 76 is likewise slidably affixed to a rod support block 124, along the opposite side of the plates 60 and 62. The gear racks 76 and 82 drivingly engage with and rotate splined shafts 88 and 90, respectively.

As can be best seen in FIG. 5, the splined shaft 90, at its one end, is affixed within and rotatably supported by a bearing block 92 affixed to a cam block 94. The opposite end of the splined shaft has a threaded bushing 96 fixedly secured to it, in which is threadedly received a shaft 98. The shaft 98 is, in turn, affixed to a ball rack (not shown) of a ball-disk integrator which, in FIG. 2, comprises the ball-disk integrator 52. As indicated above, when the gear rack 82 is raised or lowered by the resolver 24, the splined shaft 90 is rotated. The splined shaft 90, in rotating, causes the end of the shaft 98 to be threaded into or out of the threaded bushing 96. This action longitudinally displaces the ball rack or the ball-disk integrator 52 with respect to its disc (not shown). Displacement of the ball rack varies the output of the ball-disk integrator, in the well-known manner.

The splined shaft 88 is likewise affixed and rotatably supported at its one end within a bearing block 114 affixed to a cam block 115, while its opposite end has a threaded bushing 116 affixed to it. A shaft 118 affixed to the ball rack of a balldisk integrator which, in FIG. 2, comprises the ball-disk integrator which, in FIG. 2, comprises the ball-disk integrator 46, is threadedly received, within the threaded bushing 116. The splined shaft 88 is rotated by the gear rack 76, in the same manner as the splined shaft 90 is rotated by the gear rack 82, to cause the end of the shaft 118 to be threaded into or out of the bushing 116. The ball rack of the ball-disk integrator 46 is thereby longitudinally displaced with respect to its disc (not shown), to vary its output also.

The cam block 94 is slidably afiixed to a pair of cam block rods 100 which are supported in horizontal space relation, by rod support blocks 104 affixed to the plate 62. An elongated cam slot 108 is formed in the cam block 94, for receiving a cam 110 affixed to a cam wheel 112.

The cam block 115 likewise is slidably affixed to a pair of cam block rod 120 (only one of which can be seen in FIG. 3) which are supported in horizontal space relation, by rod support blocks 124, like the rod support blocks 104, affixed to the plate 60. The cam block 115 has an elongated cam slot 126 in it, for receiving a cam 128 affixed to a cam wheel 130.

The cam wheels 112 and 130 both form a part of the resolver 34, and are affixed to a shaft 132 rotatably secured between the plates 60 and 62, with the cams 110 and 128 thereon, 90' out of phase. The shaft 132 has a worm gear 134 affixed to it, which is driven by another worm gear 136 affixed to the end of a vertically disposed, the X- and shaft 138 (FlG. 5). The shaft 138 corresponds to the heading input 36, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and the cams 110 and 128 correspond to the X and Y outputs 38 and 40, respectively, of the resolver 34.

With this arrangement, it can be seen that a heading input applied to the shaft 138 is applied to the cams 110 and 128, as the cam wheels 112 and 130 are rotated by the worm gears 134, 136 and the shaft 132. It can also be seen that the outputs provided by the cams 110 and 128 are 90 out of phase so as to provide the X and Y components of the heading, respectively.

The cams 110 and 128 are disposed within the cam slots 108 and 126 of the cam blocks 94 and 115, respectively, and when rotated, cause the cam blocks and the splined shafts 88 and 90 affixed to them to be longitudinally displaced. The movement of the shafts 88 and 90, in turn, longitudinally displaced the shafts 118, 98 and the ball rack (not shown) of the ball-disk integrators 46 and 52 affixed to them.

From the above description, it can be seen that both the gear racks 76 and 82 in combination with the splined shafts 90 and 88, and the splined shafts 90 and 88 in combination with the cam blocks 94 and 115, are operative to longitudinally displace the shafts 98 and 118 comprising the inputs to the balldisc integrators 46 and 52, respectively. Accordingly, the gear rack 76, the splined shaft 88, the threaded bushing 116 and the cam block 115 comprise the mechanical computer 42 of FIG. 2, and that the gear rack 82, the splined shaft 90, the threaded bushing 96 and the cam block 94 comprise the mechanical computer 48. The shafts 118 and 98 threadedly affixed to the bushing 116 and 96, correspond to the outputs 44 and 50 to the respective ball-disk ball-disk 46 and 52 of FIG. 2.

Affixed to the opposite ends of the plates 60 and 62 is a bracket 140 which supports a variable speed electric motor 142. The motor 142 preferably is a 12V, 4400 rpm. motor which is controlled by a potentiometer (not shown) to vary its speed. The potentiometer is drivingly coupled to the airspeed indicator of the trainer 12. The motor 142 has an output shaft 144 which has a drive gear 146 affixed to its end. The drive gear 146 is drivingly coupled to a pair of driven gears 148 and 150, by a continuous belt 152. The driven gears 148 and 150 are coupled respectively to the discs (not shown) of the balldisk integrators 46 and 52, to rotatably drive them. Accordingly, the driven gears 148 and 150 correspond to the outputs 55 and 57 to the ball-disk integrators 46 and 52, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The output shafts 154 and 156 of the ball-disk integrators 46 and 52 have gears 158 and 160 affixed to them, respectively. These gears 158 and 160 are drivingly coupled to gears 162 and 164, respectively, which are, in turn, affixed to the input shafts of a pair of couplers 166 and 168. A pair of flexible drive cables 170 and 172 extend the output of the couplers 166 and 168, respectively, to the drive mechanism of the plotter 10, to drive the drive pulleys (not shown) thereof. These drive pulleys, in turn, drive the cables (not shown) for moving the support bars 18 and 19 and the plotting head 20, as described above.

In operation, the motor 142 rotatably drives the driven gears 148 and 150 affixed to the discs of the respective balldisk integrators 46 and 52. The output of the ball-disk integrators 46 and 52 are dependent upon the position of their ball racks with respect to their discs. The positions of the ball racks are, in turn, dependent upon the simulated wind direction and velocity applied to the resolver 24 by the instructor and the simulated heading of the trainer, as it is being flown by the student pilot.

With no wind direction or velocity input to the resolver 24 of the control mechanism and a simulated North or South (or a simulated East or West) heading, the position of one of the gear racks 76 and 82 and one of the cams and 128 is such that the ball rack of the associated one of the ball-disk integrators 46 and 52 is centered with respect to the disc thereof. With the ball rack in this position, the ball disc integrator has no output. The gear rack and the cam associated with the other one of the ball-disk integrators are positioned so that the ball rack is displaced to produce an output from that ball-disk integrator. This output on being coupled to the drive mechanism for the support bars 18 19 and the plotting head 20, drives them so as to provide a North or South (or an East or West) plot on the plotting face 16.

If a wind direction and velocity input is applied to the resolver 24, the gear racks 76 and 82 are raised, or lowered, to displace the ball racks of the ball-disk integrators 46 and 52 with respect to the discs thereof, by rotating the splined shafts 88 and 90, in the manner described above, so as to thread the ends of the shaft 98 and 118 into or out of the respective bushings 96 and 116. The outputs of the ball-disk integrators are correspondingly changed, so as to drive the support bars 18, 19 and the plotting head 20 to reflect the effect of the wind on the simulated course of the trainer.

If the simulated airspeed of the trainer is changed, the speed of the motor 142 is proportionately changed, by means of a potentiometer (not shown) coupled to and operated by the airspeed indicator in the trainer. When the speed of the motor changes, the rotational speed of the discs of the ball-disk integrators 46 and 52 are correspondingly slowed, or increased. This action, in turn, varies the output coupled to the drive mechanism for the support bars 18, 19 and the plotting head 20, to proportionately change the rate of displacement thereof.

If the simulated heading of the trainer is changed, the shaft 138 comprising the heading 36 of the resolver 34 is rotated. The shaft 138, on being rotated, in turn, through the operation of the gears 134 and 136, rotates the cam wheels 112 and 130. The cam pins 110 and 128 of the cam wheels 112 and 130, in turn, longitudinally displace the cam blocks 94 and and the splined shafts 88 and 90, the shafts 98 and 118, and the ball racks of the ball-disk integrators. The output of the balldisk integrators changes accordingly, to reflect this heading change.

It can be seen from the above description that the X-Y plotter 10 and particularly the control mechanism 22 thereof is completely mechanical in operation, with the exception of the input to the ball-disk integrators 46 and 52 provided by the motor 142. The plotter 10 thereof is not subject to drift, as in the case of electrically or electronically operated plotters. Also, the plotter 10 is virtually, if not completely, free of null points and, once calibrated, rarely, if ever, requires recalibration. Accordingly the plot provided by the plotter 10 is extremely accurate, in comparison to other presently available plotters.

The control mechanism 22 for the plotter 10 has far greater power output capacities than most available control mechanisms in other similar plotters. This also is due to the fact that the control mechanism 22 is a mechanical rather than an electrical or electronic device. For this reason, the control mechanism 22 is adaptable for use in numerous applications where heretofore it was generally difficult to provide sufiicient output to drive the plotters driving'arrangement.

The control mechanism 22 furthermore is of a relatively simple construction and can be easily repaired, if necessary, by the average layman. There is no need to employ the services of a skilled electronic technician.

Also, while the X-Y plotter 10 is illustrated adapted to plot the simulated flight of a grounded stationary aviation trainer, it is apparent that it is equally applicable to plot other information as well, in other environments. The control mechanism 22 thereof is generally capably of resolving the inputs applied to the resolvers 24 and 34 and the ball-disk integrators 46 and 52, to provide an X- and Y-component output to drive the driving mechanism of the plotter.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

IClaim:

1. Control means for X-Y plotters having a plotting face, a support bar, a plotting head afiixed to said support bar, and driving means operated in response to said control means to move said support bar and said plotting head to provide a plot on said plotting face corresponding to and representing the data coupled to said control means, said control means comprising, in combination: a first resolver having data coupled to its and providing an X and a Y component output of said data; I

a second resolver having data coupled to it and providing an X and a Y component output of said data; a first and a second mechanical computer; a first mechanical-integrating means having an input coupled thereto and providing an integrated output of said input; a second mechanical-integrating means having an input coupled thereto and providing an integrated output of said input; said X component outputs of said first and second resolvers being coupled to said first mechanical computer and being translated thereby to provide a composite output which is coupled as said input to said first mechanicalintegrating means; said Y component outputs of said first and second resolvers being coupled to said second mechanical computer and being translated thereby to provide a composite output which is coupled as said input to said second mechanical-integrating means; variable means having data coupled to it, said variable means being coupled to and providing an input to both said first and second mechanical-integrating means to vary the integrated outputs thereof in accordance with the.

data coupled to said variable means, said outputs of said first and said second mechanical-integrating means being coupled to and operating said driving means; said first and second mechanical-integrating means each comprising a ball-disk integrator having a rotating disc, a ball rack, an input shaft coupled to said ball rack for movably displacing said ball rack with respect to said disc, and an output shaft coupled to said ball rack and rotated in accordance with the position of said ball rack with respect to said disc; the composite outputs of said first and second mechanical computers being coupled to said input shafts of said first and second mechanical-integrating means, respectively, to displace said ball racks with respect to said discs.

2. Control means, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second mechanical computers each comprises a computer A... mmum" anti elirlahlv mnvahlv secured to said support and having coupling means affixed to one end thereof which is adapted to couple said computer shaft to another shaft and to slidably move said other shaft when said computer shaft is rotated; shaft-rotating means secured to said support and drivingly engaged with said computer shaft for rotating it; said input shafts of said first and second mechanical-integrating means being affixed by means of said coupling means to said computer shafts of said first and second mechanical computers, respectively, and being moved when said computer shafts are rotated by said shaft-rotating rotating means to displace said ball racks with respect to said discs; the X and Y component outputs of said second resolver being coupled to and moving respective ones of said shaft-rotating means; and the X and Y component outputs of said first resolver being coupled to and moving respectively ones of said computer shafts.

3. Control means, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first resolver comprises, in combination, a pair of cam blocks each having an elongated cam slot therein movably affixed to said support means in spaced relation; the opposite end of said computer shafts being coupled to respective ones of said cam blocks; cam means engaged within respective ones of said cam slots in said cam blocks and adapted to move said cam blocks 90 out of phase with one another when said cam means are rotated; a drive shaft affixed to said cam means for rotating said cam means; whereby data coupled to said drive shaft to rotate it causes said cam means to be rotated and said cam means, in turn, cause said cam blocks and the computer shafts affixed to them to be moved.

4. Control means, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second mechanical computers each comprises a splined shaft rotatably and slidably movably secured to said support and having a threaded bushing affixed to one end thereof, a gear rack slidably movably secured to said support and drivingly engaged with said splined shaft for rotating it; said input shafts of said first and second mechanical-integrating means being threaded and retained within said threaded bushings affixed to said splined shafts of said first and second mechanical computers, respectively, and being threaded into and out of said bushings when said splined shafts are rotated by said gear'racks to displace said ball racks with respect to said discs; the X and Y component outputs of said second resolver being coupled to and moving respective ones of said gear racks; and the X and Y component outputs of said first resolver being coupled to and moving respectively ones of said splined shafts.

5. Control means, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first resolver comprises, in combination, a pair of cam blocks each having an elongated cam slot therein movably affixed to said support means in spaced relation; the opposite end of said splined shafts being coupled to respective ones of said cam blocks; a cam wheel shaft having a gear affixed to it; a pair of cam wheels each having a cam pin affixed to it fixedly secured to said cam wheel shaft, said cam pins being disposed out of phase with one another and engaged within respective ones of said cam slots in said cam blocks; a drive shaft having a gear affixed to it and drivingly engaged with said gear affixed to said cam wheel shaft; whereby data coupled to said drive shaft to rotate it causes said cam wheel shaft and said cam wheels affixed to it to be rotated and said cam pins affixed to said cam wheels, in turn, cause said cam blocks and the splined shafts affixed to them to be moved.

6. Control means, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said variable means is coupled to and rotates said disc in both said first and second mechanical-integrating means.

7. Control means, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said variable means comprises a variable speed motor having an output shaft which is coupled to said discs in both said first and second mechanical-integrating means.

8. An X-Y plotter for use with stationary aviation trainers having heading output means and airspeed output means to plot the simulated flight thereof in an established simulated wind of a predetermined direction and velocity, said X-Y plotters comprising: a plotting face; a support bar; a plotting head affixed to said support bar; driving means for moving said support bar and said plotting head to provide a plot on said plotting face; and control means coupled to said driving means for controlling the operation thereof including a wind direction and velocity resolver having wind data coupled to it and providing an X- and a Y component output of said wind data and a heading resolver having heading data coupled to it and providing an X and a Y component output of said heading data; a first and a second mechanical computer; a first and a second mechanical-integrating means, each having an input coupled thereto and providing integrated outputs of said in puts; said X component outputs of both said wind direction and velocity resolver and said heading resolver being coupled to said first mechanical computer and being translated thereby to provide a composite output which is coupled as said input to said first mechanical-integrating means; said Y component outputs of both said wind direction and velocity resolver and said heading resolver being coupled to said second mechanical computer and being translated thereby to provide a composite output which is coupled as said input to said second mechanical-integrating means; variable means having airspeed data coupled to it, said variable means being coupled to and providing an input to both said first and second mechanical-integrating means to vary the integrated outputs thereof in accordance with the data coupled to said variable means, said outputs of said first and said mechanical-integrating means being coupled to and operating said driving means.

9. An X-Y plotter, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first and second mechanical-integrating means each comprises a ball-disk integrator having a rotating disc, a ball rack, an input shaft coupled to said ball rack for movably displacing said ball rack with respect to said disc, and an output shaft coupled to said ball rack and rotated in accordance with the position of said ball rack with respect to said disc; said first and second mechanical computers each comprises a splined shaft rotatably and slidably movably secured to said support and having a threaded bushing affixed to one end thereof, a gear rack slidably movably secured to said support and drivingly engaged with said splined shaft for rotating it; said input shafts of said first and second mechanical-integrating means being threaded and retained within said threaded bushings affixed to said splined shafts of said first and second mechanical computers, respectively, and being threaded into and out of said bushings when said splined shafts are rotated by said gear racks to displace said ball racks with respect to said discs; the X- and Y component outputs of said second resolver being coupled to and moving respective ones of said gear racks; and said first resolver comprises a pair of cam blocks each having an elongated cam slot therein movably affixed to said support in spaced relation; the opposite end of said splined shafts being coupled to respective ones of said cam blocks; a cam wheel shaft having a gear affixed to it; a pair of cam wheels each having a cam pin affixed to it fixedly secured to said cam wheel shaft, said cam pins being disposed out of phase with one another and engaged within respective ones of said cam slots in said cam blocks; a drive shaft having a gear affixed to it and drivingly engaged with said gear affixed to said cam wheel shaft; whereby data coupled to said drive shaft to rotate it causes said cam wheel shaft and said cam wheels affixed to it to be rotated and said cam pins affixed to said cam wheels, in turn, cause said cam blocks and the splined shafts affixed to them to be moved. 

